Anxiety disorders are known to significantly affect various aspects of life, and career performance is no exception. A recent study delved into the intricate relationship between anxiety and work-related outcomes, specifically within a population seeking treatment for anxiety disorders. This research not only explored the initial links between anxiety and career but also examined how changes in anxiety levels over a 12-week treatment period impacted work outcomes. To ensure comprehensive evaluation, the study utilized four validated instruments, aiming to refine the measurement of work-related quality of life for individuals with anxiety.
The methodology involved assessing adult patients newly enrolled in a university anxiety clinic. Participants completed four work performance measures: the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ), the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), the Endicott Work Productivity Scale (EWPS), and the Functional Status Questionnaire Work Performance Scale (WPS). Anxiety severity was gauged using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). To track progress, the Clinical Global Impressions, Global Improvement Scale (CGI-I) was administered by patients at a 12-week follow-up, evaluating symptom changes. For comparative analysis, patients were categorized into two groups based on their baseline BAI scores: minimal/mild anxiety and moderate/severe anxiety. These groups were then compared across the work performance measures.
Eighty-one patients provided complete baseline data for the study. Interestingly, the severity of anxiety did not correlate with the type of job, time spent in the job, job satisfaction, or job choice. However, a clear trend emerged: individuals experiencing higher levels of anxiety generally demonstrated reduced work performance across all assessment tools. Notably, those in the moderate/severe anxiety group reported impaired job advancement. The study highlighted the multi-item performance scales as exhibiting stronger validity and internal consistency. Furthermore, the WLQ and WPAI questionnaires proved sensitive to changes, effectively detecting improvements in work performance corresponding to symptom improvement.
In conclusion, the study’s findings underscore a significant association between the level of work performance and the severity of anxiety. Among the instruments evaluated, the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI) stood out, demonstrating both acceptable validity and internal reliability in measuring work performance in individuals with anxiety. This research emphasizes the importance of considering the impact of a previous anxiety diagnosis on career trajectory and performance and highlights the utility of specific measurement tools in this context.
